The 40-Something Comeback: Most Successful Old Man/Lady Comebacks

Recent comments by former NFL running back Herschel Walker about a return trip to the NFL, may seem far fetched and more of a ratings grabber for his next MMA fight this Saturday night. But whose to say this 48 year old can't and won't succeed on the grid-iron once again. He's managed to surprise the sports community with his amazing athletic abilities for 30 years. He recently was quoted saying:

"I know I can play. If I continue to stay in the shape I'm in now, I know I can play when I'm 50. Right now, if you asked if I can play today, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind I can play football today, that I can help out a team today. I 100% guarantee you I can help a football team out."

There have been reports that he will be granted a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons, his home state team, in an effort to make his statement come true. That won't be the case if a new C.B.A. isn't figured out by the 2011 football campaign. How long will he wait to fulfill his desires to excite or disappoint what will be more of a circus act when it comes to fruition. Either way, this is a free country and if the man believes he can make the team with a bunch of athletic monsters 20-25 years younger than he is and not get hurt, then more power to him. Being a Cowboys fan, I'm hoping Jerry Jones goes back to his old ways and brings him home and signs him to a one game contract. Allow the guy if he doesn't make the Falcons practice squad, to get the chance to suit up, and perform in one series. That would make it officially a successful comeback story.

I was wondering what other athletes came out of years of retirement, and accomplished what they set out to do; to stop the Old Man Blues. Here's my Top Five Most Successful Old Man/Lady Comebacks.

5. Brett Favre - Though considered somewhat unsuccessful 2 of 3 times, he did rally the 2009 Minnesota Vikings to the NFC Title Game, only to not seal the deal, by throwing his forever infamous across the field interception pass on a bad ankle. Maybe that should have been the end, of his comeback, but when a team pays you 20 million plus to lead them back, you take the money and give a good old man try.

4. Martina Navratilova  - Nearly 10 years since she retired from her Grand Slam singles tennis career, Martina returned in 2004 to advance to the 2nd round at Wimbledon at the age of 47. She has had a very successful Women's double career.

3. Michael Jordan - We all remember that little baseball thing he ventured on, when he got bored of basketball. He tried out for the White Sox's Birmingham Barons in 1994 and realized he needed to come back out of basketball retired life, and guide the Bulls to their second three-peat.

2. Mario Lemieux - Super Mario retired in 1997 due to his battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He was anointed immediate entry in the Hockey Hall of Fame, only to return to the ice in 2000 and officially retire in 2006. Lemieux tallied 76 points in only 43 games in 2001 making his comeback superb.

1. George Foreman: At the ripe old age of 45 Mr. George Foreman, became the biggest success story in our panel of comebacks, when in 1994 he knocked out Michael Moorer to win the heavyweight title for the 2nd time in his career which spanned almost 30 years. Throw a shrimp on the barbie for us Big George.